Game Providing System

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a game providing system, including: an allocation server connected to a plurality of client apparatus through a network; and a game providing server configured to execute a game application to be provided to the client apparatus allocated by the allocation server. The game providing server is a multiprocessing system which includes a plurality of game processing systems each of which can solely execute at most one game application. The allocation server sets the number of ones of the game processing systems which are to be allocated in order to execute one game application in the game providing server in response to a load to the game providing server.

BACKGROUND

The present technology relates to a game providing system.

In recent years, communication technologies for networks beginning withthe Internet have developed rapidly, and what is called a cloud serviceby which a user receives the provision of various applications through anetwork has become provided. Among such cloud services, also a cloudgaming service has been implemented wherein a game application isexecuted on a cloud server and a result of the execution is streamingdistributed to a client apparatus through a network.

In order to implement such a cloud gaming service as just described, aplurality of game providing servers are required to provide differentapplications to a plurality of different users. Naturally, a pluralityof processing systems are involved in order to execute gameapplications.

If a plurality of processing systems are prepared in order to cope witha maximum number of users estimated as users who utilize a cloud gamingservice, then when the number of users who actually utilize the cloudgaming service is small, a surplus appears among calculation resourcesof the game providing server. On the other hand, if the number ofprocessing systems to be prepared is reduced, then the calculationresources of the game providing server become insufficient, and the gameproviding servers cannot cope with an estimated maximum number of users.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a technology which can distributecalculation resources of a game providing server appropriately.

SUMMARY

In order to solve the problem described above, according to anembodiment of the present technology, there is provided a game providingsystem including an allocation server connected to a plurality of clientapparatus through a network, and a game providing server configured toexecute a game application to be provided to the client apparatusallocated by the allocation server. The game providing server is amultiprocessing system which includes a plurality of game processingsystems each of which can solely execute at most one game application.The allocation server sets the number of ones of the game processingsystems which are to be allocated in order to execute one gameapplication in the game providing server in response to a load to thegame providing server.

It is to be noted that an arbitrary combination of the componentsdescribed above and representations of the present technology where theyare converted between a method, an apparatus, a system, a computerprogram a data structure, a recording medium and so forth are valid asmodes of the present technology. The computer program may be provided aspart of firmware which is incorporated in an apparatus in order to carryout basic control of hardware resources which implements the graphicsprocessor. This firmware is stored in a semiconductor memory such as aROM (Read Only Memory) or a flash memory in the apparatus. In order toprovide this firmware or in order to update part of the firmware, acomputer-readable recording medium in or on which the program isrecorded may be provided, or the program may be transmitted by acommunication line.

With the present technology, a technology which can distributecalculation resources of a game providing server appropriately can beprovided.

The above and other features and advantages of the present technologywill become apparent from the following description and the appendedclaims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in whichlike parts or elements are denoted by like reference characters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically depicting a generalconfiguration of an application providing system according to anembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view schematically depicting an internalconfiguration of a blade server in the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically depicting a circuitconfiguration of a processing system in the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating data transfer between differentprocessing systems;

FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrammatic views schematically illustratingconnection topologies between processing systems in one blade;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view schematically illustrating a connectiontopology between processing systems across a plurality of blades;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a memory map of a memory anda dependency of processes upon cooperation of four processing systems;

FIGS. 8A to 8E are diagrammatic views illustrating a flow of updating ofa memory map upon cooperation of four processing systems; and

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a flow of a changing process of theallocation number of processing systems executed by an allocation serverin the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a general configuration of an applicationproviding system 10 according to an embodiment. In FIG. 1, from among aplurality of client apparatus 500 generally referred to as clientapparatus 500, client apparatuses 500 a and 500 b are depicted. Theclient apparatus 500 are connected to a login server 300 through anetwork 400 such as the Internet.

The login server 300 manages accounts of users who utilize the clientapparatus 500 connected thereto through the network 400. The loginserver 300 refers to a database not depicted in which user names,passwords and so forth of users registered in the application providingsystem 10 are stored and is responsible for a login process and a logoffprocess of a user.

In FIG. 1, from among a plurality of blade servers 200 collectivelyreferred to as blade server 200, blade servers 200 a and 200 b aredepicted. The blade servers 200 execute an application to be provided tothe client apparatus 500. An allocation server 100 allocates, from amongthe plural blade servers 200, a blade server 200 which is to execute anapplication to be provided to a client apparatus 500, and causes theblade server 200 to execute the application program. It is to be notedthat details of the allocation process by the allocation server 100 arehereinafter described.

In most cases, the client apparatus 500 has a calculation resource suchas a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and also it is possible to executeat least part of an application program in a local environment of theclient apparatus 500. However, to a user who utilizes the clientapparatus 500, it is not a significant matter whether an application isexecuted in a local calculation resource or in a calculation resource ofthe application providing system 10 on a network, but the two cases aresame in that the service can be utilized. The client apparatus 500 canbe implemented using, for example, a PC (Personal Computer), astationary game console, portable game player, a smartphone, a tabletPC, a phablet, an electronic book terminal, an electronic dictionary, aportable music player or a portable one-segment television set.

FIG. 1 illustrates a manner in which the client apparatus 500 and thelogin server 300 are connected to each other through the network 400 andschematically depicts a real system configuration. However, a user whoutilizes the client apparatus 500 does not very often recognize a systemconfiguration of the login server 300, allocation server 100 and soforth including the network 400. From the standpoint of a user whoutilizes the application providing system 10, there is no necessity tounderstand a physical configuration, a software configuration and soforth of the application providing system 10 when the user receivesprovision of a service, but the user has an impression as if the userutilized a service appearing from within a cloud of a network. Theapplication providing system 10 depicted in FIG. 1 configures a cloudgaming system.

In the following, description is given of a case in which the bladeserver 200 in the application providing system 10 according to theembodiment executes a game content developed under the assumption thatthe game content is executed on a game console which is hardware forexclusive use. In this sense, the blade server 200 functions as a gameproviding server. However, the content to be executed by the bladeserver 200 is not limited to a game, but also execution of a content ofa genre other than a game such as, for example, an SNS (SocialNetworking Service) or a video browsing service is included in thepresent embodiment.

FIG. 2 schematically depicts an internal configuration of the bladeserver 200 in the embodiment. Referring to FIG. 2, one blade server 200can incorporate 16 blades 600 in a housing. The blade server 200 in theembodiment includes 16 blades 600. In FIG. 2, the 16 blades 600 aredenoted as blades 600 a to 600 p. In the following description, except acase in which each of the blades 600 a to 600 p is to be specificallyidentified, each of the blades 600 a to 600 p is referred to simply as“blades 600.” Each blade 600 solely configures an application providingserver, and the 16 blades 600 are not necessarily required for executionof an application program. Further, the number of blades 600 provided inthe blade server 200 in the embodiment is not limited to 16, but only itis necessary for a plurality of blades 600 to be provided.

As depicted in FIG. 2, one blade 600 includes four processing systems700 a to 700 d (in the following description, except a case in whicheach of the processing systems 700 a to 700 d is to be specificallyidentified, each of the processing systems 700 a to 700 d is referred tosimply as “processing system 700”). The blade 600 further includes apower supply port 610, an input/output port 620, and a communicationport 630. The processing systems 700 a to 700 d, power supply port 610,input/output port 620 and communication port 630 are provided on thesame board.

As described hereinabove, the blade server 200 in the embodimentexecutes a game content developed under the assumption that the gamecontent is executed on a game console which is hardware for exclusiveuse. Each of the four processing systems 700 a to 700 d disposed on thesubstrate which configures the blade 600 is solely a processing systemhaving a performance equivalent to that of a processing system providedin a game console.

Generally, a game title developed for a game console for exclusive useis optimized to a high degree for a hardware resource such as aprocessor or a memory. Therefore, one processor is occupied in order toexecute one game title, and it is difficult for a processor to solelyexecute a plurality of game titles at the same time. Also the processingsystem 700 in the embodiment is a game processing system which cansolely execute at most one game application. The blade 600 in theembodiment includes a plurality of such processing systems 700 andconfigures a multi-processing system.

The power supply port 610 supplies electric power to the processingsystems 700 provided in the blade 600. The input/output port 620 is aport for transmitting and receiving data to and from a different one ofthe blades 600 and can be implemented using a known input/outputinterface such as, for example, PCI Express (Peripheral ComponentInterconnect Express). The communication port 630 receives an allocationinstruction of a processing system 700 which is to execute a gameapplication from the allocation server 100. The communication port 630can be implemented using a LAN (Local Area Network) port consistent witha known LAN standard such as, for example, Ethernet (registeredtrademark).

FIG. 3 schematically depicts a circuit configuration of the processingsystem 700 in the embodiment. The processing system 700 in theembodiment includes a CPU 710, a GPU (Graphical Processing Unit) 724, amemory 726, a memory controlling unit 714, a bridge 712, a DMA (DirectMemory Access) controller 716, an input/output bridge 722, a GPU bus718, and a CPU bus 720.

The GPU 724 generates a video of a game application to be provided tothe client apparatus 500. The GPU 724 is connected to the memory 726through the GPU bus 718. The memory 726 stores data outputted from theGPU 724.

The CPU 710 is connected to the memory 726 through the CPU bus 720. TheCPU 710 is connected also to the GPU 724 through the GPU bus 718. TheCPU 710 is connected to these buses through the bridge 712. Further, thememory 726 is connected to the GPU bus 718 and the CPU bus 720.Therefore, transfer of data between the memory 726 and the CPU 710 orthe GPU 724 is executed through the memory controlling unit 714. The CPU710 and the GPU 724 share the memory 726 and share data through thememory 726. Both of the GPU bus 718 and the CPU bus 720 functions as adata bus for use for data exchange.

The DMA controller 716 is connected to the GPU bus 718. The input/outputbridge 722 is connected to the GPU bus 718 and serves as an interfacefor transferring data to and from an external processing system 700. TheDMA controller 716 is connected to the GPU bus 718 and can transfer datastored in the memory 726 to the external processing system 700 under thecontrol of the GPU 724 without intervention of the CPU 710.

FIG. 4 illustrates transfer of data between different processing systems700. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, two different processingsystems 700 a and 700 b are connected to each other through input/outputbridges 722 a and 722 b, respectively. More particularly, theinput/output bridge 722 a provided in the processing system 700 aincludes a plurality of input/output ports 730 a, 731 a, 732 a and 733 afor transferring data to and from the other processing system 700.Similarly, also the input/output bridge 722 b provided in the processingsystem 700 b includes a plurality of input/output ports 730 b, 731 b,732 b and 733 b. The processing systems 700 a and 700 b are connected toeach other through the input/output port 730 a and the input/output port730 b, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 4, the processing system 700 a is connected, inaddition to the processing system 700 b, to the processing system 700 cthrough the input/output port 732 a and is connected also to theprocessing system 700 d through the input/output port 733 a. Meanwhile,the processing system 700 b is connected, in addition to the processingsystem 700 a, to the processing systems 700 c, 700 d and 700 e throughinput/output ports 731 b, 732 b and 733 b, respectively. In this manner,the buses which connect different ones of the processing systems 700through the input/output ports function as external buses fortransferring data between the processing systems 700.

It is to be noted that the input/output bridge 722 can carry out notonly accessing through the DMA controller 716 but also mapping of theinput/output ports to a physical memory within a particular range topass a command, which is to be passed to the GPU bus 718, to the GPU bus718 of the remote node (different processing system 700). Theinput/output bridges 722 are connected to the GPU bus 718 and mapped tothe physical memory. Therefore, each of the CPU 710 and the GPU 724 candirectly access the memory 726 of the remote node.

In the following, cooperative execution of one game application programby the processing system 700 a and the processing system 700 b isdescribed as an example.

In the processing system 700 in the embodiment, the GPU 724 can issue adata transfer instruction regarding data stored in the memory 726 to theDMA controller 716 without depending upon control by the CPU 710. It isassumed that, for example, the GPU 724 a issues a data transferinstruction for instructing the DMA controller 716 a to transfer datastored in the memory 726 a to the processing system 700 b. As a triggerfor issuing the data transfer instruction, the GPU 724 a sometimesissues a data transfer instruction voluntarily. Alternatively, the GPU724 a may issue a data transfer instruction in response to a datareadout instruction broadcasted by the processing system 700 b. In anycase, when the DMA controller 716 a receives the data transferinstruction, it controls the input/output bridge 722 a to transfer datastored in the memory 726 a to the processing system 700 b.

The DMA controller 716 b in the processing system 700 b receives datatransferred from the processing system 700 a through the input/outputbridge 722 b. Then, the DMA controller 716 b writes the received datainto the memory 726 b in the processing system 700 b.

It is to be noted that, when the GPU 724 b in the processing system 700b tries to acquire data stored in the memory 726 a of the processingsystem 700 a, the GPU 724 b first issues a data acquisition instructionto the DMA controller 716 b without intervention of the CPU 710 b. Afterthe DMA controller 716 b receives the data acquisition instruction, itissues a readout instruction of data to the input/output bridge 722 b.The input/output bridge 722 b broadcasts the readout instruction of dataissued by the DMA controller 716 b to the external bus. Operation of theprocessing system 700 a after it receives the instruction is similar tothat described hereinabove.

In this manner, the GPU 724 can transmit data stored in the memory 726to an external processing system 700 and can receive data of theexternal processing system 700 and store the data into the memory 726.It is to be noted that details of sharing and processing of data betweena plurality of processing systems 700 are hereinafter described.

FIGS. 5A to 5C schematically illustrate connection topologies ofprocessing systems 700 in one blade 600. As described hereinabove, theprocessing systems 700 a to 700 d having a same performance are mountedon a board which configures the blade 600. Here, it is assumed that theinput/output bridges 722 a to 722 d in the processing systems 700 aremounted using known PCI Express.

Though not depicted, a system controller for controlling operation ofPCI Express is incorporated in the blade 600. The system controllerreceives an instruction indicative of a connection relationship from theallocation server 100 through the communication port 630 and controlsthe connection of the input/output bridge 722. More particularly, thesystem controller sets Root Complex and Endpoint of PCI Express based onthe received instruction and then applies resetting to establishconnection. The processing systems 700 between which the connection isestablished share data stored in the memories of them and cancooperatively execute the same game application.

FIG. 5A illustrates a connection scheme of the two processing systems700 a and 700 b. FIG. 5B illustrates a connection scheme of the threeprocessing systems 700 a, 700 b and 700 c. FIG. 5C illustrates aconnection scheme of the four processing systems 700 a, 700 b, 700 c and700 d. Since the input/output bridge 722 in each processing system 700includes a plurality of input/output ports (730, 731, 732 and 733), inany case, different processing systems 700 are connected to each otherby a point-to-point connection. Consequently, the processing systems 700can carry out one-to-one communication therebetween.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates connection topologies betweenprocessing systems 700 spanning a plurality of blades 600. Particularly,FIG. 6 illustrates an example in a case in which four blades 600 a, 600b, 600 c and 600 d are connected to each other. The four processingsystems 700 in each blade 600 are connected to each other by apoint-to-point connection similarly as in the case illustrated in FIG.5C.

The four blades 600 a, 600 b, 600 c and 600 d are connected to eachother through the input/output bridge 722 provided in one of theprocessing systems 700 in each of the blades 600 a, 600 b, 600 c and 600d such that they can carry out one-to-one communication therebetween.For example, the blade 600 a and the blade 600 d carry outpoint-to-point connection therebetween through the input/output bridge722 of the processing system 700 d in the blade 600 a and theinput/output bridge 722 of the processing system 700 m in the blade 600d. Although the processing system 700 d connects also to the processingsystems 700 a, 700 b and 700 c in the blade 600 a, since theinput/output bridge 722 includes the four input/output ports 730, 731,732 and 733, the processing system 700 d can connect to four differentprocessing systems 700 at the same time.

When 16 processing systems 700 a to 700 p are connected in theconfiguration depicted in FIG. 6, the hop number of arbitrary differentprocessing systems 700 is at most three, namely, the number ofprocessing systems 700 intervening to reach the other party, is at mostthree. Consequently, the latency upon data transfer where data areshared in a case in which the 16 processing systems 700 a to 700 pcooperate to execute one game application can be suppressed.

Generally, when a plurality of GPUs are caused to cooperatively operate,a rendering process of the GPUs is divided into frame units or regionunits, and individual rendering tasks are distributed to the pluralityof GPUs. In the mainstream, the plural distributed rendering tasks areprocessed by the individual GPUs, and results of the rendering arewritten back into one of the GPUs. This is because there is arestriction to transmission of a rendering result between GPUs.

For example, if a dedicated bus is used for transmission of a renderingresult, then since the dedicated bus is like a display interfaceoptimized for transmission of an image, the bandwidth is guaranteed.However, the bandwidth is limited to a band necessary to transmit animage of a resolution equal to or lower than a certain resolution. Onthe other hand, PCI Express is sometimes used for transmission of arendering result. In this instance, although the bandwidth is great andno dedicated interface is required, since the transmission of arendering result is mixed with transmission of other data, the bandwidthguarantee is difficult.

GPUs in recent years have become able to not only carry out graphicsrendering but also carry out, in place of CPUs, parallel processing ofpart of physical calculation or of a simulation which has been carriedout by a CPU in the past. Therefore, in a real time application of agame or the like, it has become possible to divide physical calculationor the like into processes suitable for a CPU and a GPU, execute theprocesses in parallel and then reflect a result of the execution of theprocesses on a rendering process. However, for example, when an input bya user is to be reflected on physical calculation and rendering,distributed processing in a unit of a frame is not suitable because thismakes a cause to increase the latency.

Further, where physical calculation and rendering are to be completed inone frame, an interaction of a CPU and a GPU occurs by a plural numberof times within one frame. For example, a case is considered wherein oneframe is divided into two regions in each of the vertical and horizontaldirections and the totaling four regions are rendered by four GPUs. Atthis time, a shadow of a moving body existing in a region to beprocessed by a certain GPU can sometimes reflect not only in the regionbut also in another region to be processed by a different GPU. In thiscase, a movement of the moving body is processed by a CPU while theshadow originating from the moving body is rendered by the two GPUs.Thus, interaction of the CPU and the GPUs occurs by a plural number oftimes within one frame.

The processing system 700 in the embodiment is a system in which the CPU710 and the GPU 724 are integrated on one chip. Further, the CPU 710 andthe GPU 724 share the memory 726. Therefore, when the CPU 710 and theGPU 724 refer to the common data, no memory copy occurs, and the latencybecomes short. Further, since the DMA controller 716 is connected to theGPU bus 718 and can execute data transfer under the control of the GPU724, also when the processing system 700 carries out distributedprocessing together with a different processing system 700 connectedthereto through the input/output port 732, the latency by communicationand synchronization can be suppressed. Consequently, distributedprocessing on the real time basis wherein data is transferred betweendifferent GPUs 724 or CPUs 710 by a plural number of times within oneframe can be implemented.

FIG. 7 illustrates a dependency between a memory map of the memory 726and processing when the four processing systems 700 a, 700 b, 700 c and700 d cooperate with each other. Referring to FIG. 7, referencecharacter “a” indicates that the memory map is that of the memory 726 ofthe processing system 700 a. A memory region indicated by referencecharacter A (hereinafter referred to as “region A”) indicates a regioninto which data read out from a storage not depicted is to be stored bythe CPU 710 of the processing system 700 a.

A memory region denoted by reference character B (hereinafter referredto as “region B”) is a memory region into which a result of anarithmetic operation process executed by the GPU 724 using the data inthe region A is stored. A region denoted by reference character C(hereinafter referred to as “region C”) is a memory region into which aresult of an arithmetic operation process executed by the GPU 724 usingboth of the data in the region A and data in the region B is stored. Aregion denoted by reference character D (hereinafter referred to as“region D”) is a memory region into which, after data in the region Care fully prepared, a result of an arithmetic operation process executedby the CPU 710 using the data in the region C is stored. The regiondenoted by reference character FB (hereinafter referred to as “regionFB”) is a frame buffer into which a result of rendering executed usingthe data in the region A, data in the region C and data in the region Dis stored.

FIGS. 8A to 8E illustrate an example of a flow of updating of a memorymap when the four processing systems 700 a, 700 b, 700 c and 700 dcooperate with each other.

Referring to FIGS. 8A to 8E, reference characters “a,” “b,” “c” and “d”indicate memory maps of the memories 726 of the processing systems 700a, 700 b, 700 c and 700 d. The memory regions denoted by referencecharacters “A,” “B,” “C” and “D” are similar to those describedhereinabove.

FIGS. 8A to 8E illustrate an example wherein results of distributedprocessing by the four processing systems 700 a, 700 b, 700 c and 700 dare collected into the processing system 700 d. A game program and dataused for execution of distribution processing are stored in a sharedstorage (not depicted) which can be accessed from all processing systems700. Although the program is read out from the shared storage andexecuted by the individual processing systems 700, after the huge dataare read out by the processing system 700 d, they are broadcasted fromthe processing system 700 d to all of the other processing systems 700through the input/output bridge 722 d. For the shared data, the region Aassured in advance is used in order that all processing systems 700share the data at the same address.

The processing system 700 d reads out all data necessary for executionof a program such as textures and primitives from the shared storage.The processing system 700 d stores the read out data into the region A.The processing system 700 d continues reading out of data from theshared storage and broadcasts contents in the region A as non-compresseddata of a low priority to the other processing systems 700 a, 700 b and700 c. Consequently, the processing systems 700 a, 700 b, 700 c and 700d store the common data into the individual regions A as depicted inFIG. 8A.

After the four processing systems 700 a, 700 b, 700 c and 700 d storethe common data into the individual regions A, the CPU 710 of theprocessing system 700 d writes a message for conveying starting ofprogram execution in a high priority into the other processing systems700 a, 700 b and 700 c. In the processing systems 700 a, 700 b and 700c, a task to be executed by the GPU 724 is being executed already, andeach GPU 724 is polling a message region (not depicted).

After each GPU 724 detects the message, it uses the data stored in theregion A in the memory 726 to output the result into the region B in thecorresponding memory 726. FIG. 8A illustrates that the result of thearithmetic operation is stored in the region B in each of the fourprocessing systems 700 a, 700 b, 700 c and 700 d.

At a point of time at which each GPU 724 outputs its arithmeticoperation result to the region B, a next command is placed already inthe GPU 724. The next command placed in the GPU 724 is an instructionfor broadcasting the contents in the region B into the region B in thememory 726 in the other processing systems 700. Each DMA controller 716broadcasts the contents in the region B to the other processing systems700 in accordance with a DMA instruction issued by the GPU 724.Consequently, each processing system 700 can share the data in theregion B processed by the processing system 700 itself with the otherprocessing systems 700. FIG. 8B illustrates a result when data whichhave not been processed as yet at a point of time after each processingsystem 700 shares the data in the region B are further processed.

Here, the DMA controller 716 in the present embodiment executescompression of the data stored in the memory 726, decompression of datareceived by the input/output bridge 722 from data transferred from theexternal processing system 700 and control of the priority ranking of aninstruction issued from the GPU 724 or the CPU 710. More particularly,when a compression option is set to the received writing instruction,the DMA controller 716 transfers the data read out from the memory 726to a compression engine not depicted. In order to hide the latencyoccurred in the compression engine, the DMA controller 716 processesrequests inputted to the other command interfaces in parallel.

When the DMA controller 716 receives compressed data from theinput/output bridge 722, it transfers the received data to adecompression engine not depicted. The decompression engine writes thedata after decompression into the memory 726. When the destination of areading-in/writing instruction received from the input/output bridge 722is a local node, the DMA controller 716 passes the command to the GPUbus 718. If the destination is not a local node, then the DMA controller716 processes the instruction as an error or carries out routing to aninput/output node connected to the destination node.

In this manner, by compressing data upon data transfer between differentones of the processing systems 700, the transfer efficiency can beraised.

Referring back to FIGS. 8A to 8E, as described hereinabove, the region Cis a memory region into which a result when the GPU 724 carries outarithmetic operation processing using both of the data in the region Aand the data in the region B is to be stored. A GPU task for generatingdata to be stored into the region C polls the data stored in the regionB and waits until data necessary for the arithmetic operation areprepared. FIG. 8B illustrates that, since the data to be used forgeneration of data to be stored into the region C are prepared, data forthe region C are generated and stored in each of the processing systems700. FIG. 8C illustrates a case in which the data in the region Cgenerated in the processing systems 700 are broadcasted to each otherand consequently all processing systems 700 share the data in the regionC.

Here, data to be written into the region B from another processingsystem 700 is written from the DMA controller 716 through the GPU bus718. On the other hand, data to be written into the region C is writtenthrough the CPU bus 720. Alternatively, also where data is to be writteninto the other processing systems 700, an instruction may be issued tothe DMA controller 716 so that data is written into the memory throughthe CPU bus 720.

If a writing completion interruption into the region C is received, thenthe CPU 710 of the processing system 700 d generates data to be storedinto the region D using the data in the region C as depicted in FIG. 8C.It is to be noted that, since the writing into the region C is carriedout through the CPU bus 720, also when the CPU 710 caches the contentsin the region C, the contents of the cache are updated by writing fromthe outside. After the data are stored into the region D, the CPU 710 ofthe processing system 700 d broadcasts the data to the other processingsystems 700. FIG. 8D illustrates the data in the region D shared by allof the processing systems 700.

The rendering task to be processed by the GPU 724 in all of theprocessing systems 700 polls completion of writing into the region C andthe region D, and at a point of time at which the data are prepared, aframe generation process is started. Results of rendering by the GPUs724 are written into the respective regions FB. FIG. 8D illustrates therendering results of the GPUs 724 written in the respective regions FB.The rendering results of the GPUs 724 are broadcasted into the region FBof the processing system 700 d and are copied into the region FB of theprocessing system 700 d as depicted in FIG. 8E. If the data in theregion FB are prepared, then the processing system 700 d executesdisplay outputting.

In this manner, the blade server 200 in the embodiment includes aplurality of processing systems 700 each of which can solely execute atmost one game application such that the plural processing systems 700can cooperate with each other to execute one game application.Thereupon, the GPUs 724 in the processing systems 700 can closelytransfer not only a final result of processing but also intermediatedata to each other. Consequently, a process of a greater amount ofarithmetic operation than where a game application is executed by oneprocessing system 700 can be executed, and a more accurate andhigher-definition image can be provided.

It is assumed that, where PCE Express 4.0 (Gen4: 4th generation) isadopted for the input/output bridge 722, 16 lanes are divided into fourports to establish a four [lanes/port] scheme. At this time, thebandwidth per one port is 8 GB/second, and the effective bandwidth isapproximately 5 GB/second. The peak effective bandwidth where data aretransferred simultaneously through four ports is approximately 20GB/second for each of TX/RX. Where irreversible compression is combined,the internal bandwidth increases to several times the mentionedbandwidth value.

Here, the data amount which can be sent in one millisecond with thebandwidth of 5 Gb/second is 5 MB. If this is converted into vertex dataof 32 bits, then the number of vertexes per one millisecond is 1.25million. Therefore, where texture data of 32 bits/pixel are compressedto approximately 1/10, data of 50 MB per one millisecond, namely, dataof 12.5 textures of an image of 1024 pixels in the vertical directionand 1024 pixels in the horizontal direction, can be transferred.

As described above, with the blade server 200 in the embodiment, theprocessing systems 700 are connected to each other by point-to-pointconnection, and it is possible to guarantee the bandwidth as a wholesystem by priority control of processing instructions in the DMAcontroller 716 and bandwidth guarantee by the GPU bus 718 which is aninternal bus. For example, by each GPU 724 which processes real timedata of a determined size while huge data read out from a file systemare copied on the background, the deletion of a process which is to becompleted in one frame can be suppressed.

In each processing system 700, from the reason that the CPU 710 and theGPU 724 can carry out memory copying through the DMA controller 716 andso forth, the latency in data transfer between the processing systems700 can be reduced. Consequently, although distributed processing whichincludes mixed processes by the CPU 710 and the GPU 724 while data aretransferred by a plural number of times within one frame is difficult inthe past, such distributed processing becomes possible.

Execution of one game application through cooperation of a plurality ofprocessing systems 700 has been described above. Now, an allocationprocess of the processing system which allocates execution of one gameapplication is described.

In a cloud gaming system, where a game of high quality and a high loadis provided, it is difficult to operate a plurality of games by oneprocessing system. Therefore, a plurality of blade servers 200 eachincluding a plurality of processing systems 700 like the applicationproviding system 10 depicted in FIG. 1 are further prepared. However, ifthe processing systems 700 are prepared so as to be able to cope withoperation upon time of a peak at which the load applied to the system ishighest, then depending upon the time zone, the load decreases and suchprocessing systems 700 that do not operate increase. Where theapplication providing system 10 is operated as a game providing system,it is necessary to suppress the latency low, and it is difficult toimplement load dispersion in a plurality of regions in which time bandsare different from each other.

Therefore, the allocation server 100 in the embodiment sets the numberof processing systems 700 to be allocated in order to execute one gameapplication based on the load to the blade server 200 serving as a gameproviding server. More particularly, when the load to the blade server200 is high, the allocation server 100 sets the number of processingsystems 700 to be allocated in order to execute one game application toa lower value than where the load to the blade server 200 is low.

On the other hand, when the load to the blade server 200 is low, theallocation server 100 may set the operation clock to the GPU 724 and theCPU 710 in the processing system 700 allocated in order to execute thegame application to a high value in comparison with that in the case inwhich the load to the blade server 200 is high. The allocation server100 changes over the operation state of the processing system 700, forexample, in the following manner in response to the load to the bladeserver 200.

State 0: standbyState 1: one processing system 700 is used with an ordinary clockState 2: one processing systems 700 is used with a higher speed clockState 3: four processing systems 700 are used with a still higher speedclockState 4: 16 processing systems 700 are used with a yet higher speedclock

The allocation server 100 sets the operation state of the processingsystem 700 to the state 4 when the load to the blade server 200 is lowand changes the operation state of the processing system 700 to thestate 3, to the state 2 and to the state 1 as the load increases.Consequently, when the load to the blade server 200 is low, a game canbe provided with an accurate high-definition image on the clientapparatus 500. Even if the load to the blade server 200 increases, thegame can be provided on the client apparatus 500 while picture qualityequivalent to that where the game application is executed on a gameconsole which is hardware for exclusive use is maintained. It is to benoted that the states described above are a mere example, and also it ispossible to define states of different combinations of the processingsystems 700 and clocks.

Here, the “load to the blade server 200” is an allocation index of theprocessing systems 700 which is utilized in order for the allocationserver 100 to determine the number of processing systems 700 by whichone game application is to be executed. In particular, the load to theblade server 200 is at least one of power consumption of the bladeserver 200, the heat generation amount of the blade server 200 and thenumber of client apparatus 500 or of users to which the blade server 200is providing the game application. The power consumption or the heatgeneration amount of the blade server 200 can be acquired using a powermeter or a temperature sensor not depicted. When the power consumptionof the blade server 200 is high, when the amount of exhaust heat isgreat or when the number of client apparatus 500 or users to which thegame application is being provided is great, the allocation server 100decides that the load to the blade server 200 is high in comparison withthat in any other case.

If, while the allocation server 100 sets the operation state of theprocessing system 700 to a certain state, for example, a user ends thegame or changes over the application to another application whichprovides a lower load, then the load to the blade server 200 maypossibly vary. Therefore, if the load to the blade server 200 increasesor decreases while the allocation server 100 is providing a gameapplication to a plurality of client apparatus 500, then the change ofthe scene in the game application whose provision is continuing maytrigger the allocation server 100 to change the number of processingsystems 700 to be allocated in order to execute the game application.

Here, the “change of the scene in the game application” signifies atiming at which a whole frame is rendered again, for example, bychangeover of the stage by progress of the game or by change of theposition of the virtual point of view for configuring a video of thegame. If the allocation server 100 changes the operation state of theprocessing systems 700, then also the picture quality of a gameapplication to be provided is changed. However, by changing theoperation state upon changeover of the scene, it becomes possible toeffectively utilize resources of the application providing system 10while an uncomfortable feeling which the user may have upon change ofthe picture quality is suppressed.

As described hereinabove, even where a game application is provided inthe state 1 in which one processing system 700 is used with an ordinaryclock, picture quality equivalent to that where the game application isexecuted on a game console which is hardware for exclusive use can beprovided to the client apparatus 500. Accordingly, where a gameapplication is provided in any other operation state, the gameapplication can be provided with higher picture quality than where thegame application is executed on a game console which is hardware forexclusive use.

Therefore, where a plurality of processing systems 700 are allocated inorder to execute a game application being provided to the clientapparatus 500, the allocation server 100 may notify the client apparatus500 that the game application is being provided with high quality. Thiscan be carried out, for example, by displaying, at a portion of a videoprovided to the client apparatus 500, a message indicative of “highpicture quality mode” or by conveying the message by voice upon startingof the provision of the game. Consequently, a user can recognize thatthe game is being played with higher picture quality than where the gameis executed on a game console at home. Therefore, this can make anincentive to utilize the application providing system 10.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a flow of a changing process of anallocation number of processing systems 700 which is executed by theallocation server 100 in the present embodiment.

The allocation server 100 confirms the load to the blade server 200 inthe application providing system 10 (S2). If the load to the bladeserver 200 indicates an increase (Y at S4), then the allocation server100 decreases the setting of the allocation number of processing systems700 to be allocated for execution of one game application (S6).

If the load to the blade server 200 does not indicate an increase (N atS4) but indicates a decrease (Y at S8), then the allocation server 100increases the setting of the allocation number of processing systems 700to be allocated for execution of the one game software (S10). After theallocation server 100 changes the setting of the allocation number ofprocessing system 700, if the game application being executed indicatesa scene change (Y at S12), then the allocation server 100 causes thesetting of the allocation number to be reflected (S14). On the otherhand, while the game application being executed does not indicate ascene change (N at S12), the allocation server 100 waits the reflectionof the setting of the allocation number until a scene change is found.

After the allocation server 100 carries out reflection of the setting ofthe allocation number or when the load to the blade server 200 exhibitsno increase and no decrease (N at S8), the processing of the presentflow chart is ended.

As described above, with the allocation server 100 according to theembodiment, the resources of the application providing system 10 can beallocated adaptively in response to the load to the blade server 200which is a game providing server.

The present technology has been described above in connection with theembodiment thereof. The embodiment is illustrative, and it can berecognized by those skilled in the art that various modifications to theembodiment can be made in terms of combinations of the components andthe processes of the embodiment and that such modifications are includedin the scope of the present technology.

[Modifications]

In the foregoing description, the case is explained in which theallocation server 100 changes the allocation number of processingsystems 700 to be allocated for execution of one game application or theallocation server 100 changes the operation clock of the processingsystems 700 in response to the load to the blade server 200. However,the allocation server 100 may change the allocation number or the clocknumber in response to the client apparatus 500 which provides a gameapplication in place of or in addition to the load to the blade server200.

For example, a case is considered wherein, where a user tries userregistration into the application providing system 10 in order toutilize the application providing system 10 according to the embodiment,the user pays a charge in response to a utilization form of theapplication providing system 10. For example, the user can register theuser itself as a “premium user” to whom a processing system 700 isallocated more preferentially than to an ordinary user by paying ahigher charge. Where a user who utilizes a certain client apparatus 500is a premium user, even when the load to the blade server 200 is high,when a game application is to be provided to the client apparatus 500,the allocation server 100 allocates the state 2 or a higher operationstate to the client apparatus 500. Consequently, to a specific user, agame application can always be provided with higher picture quality thanwhere the game application is executed on a game console which ishardware for exclusive use.

It is to be noted that the technology according to the embodiment may bespecified by items described below.

[Item 1-1]

A processing system, including:

a graphics processing unit configured to generate a video;

a memory configured to store data;

a data bus configured to connect the graphics processing unit and thememory to each other;

a direct memory access controller connected to the data bus;

an input/output bridge connected to the data bus and connected to anexternal bus for transferring data to and from an external processingsystem which cooperates with the processing system; and

a central processing unit configured to cooperate with the graphicsprocessing unit to share the data stored in the memory,

the graphics processing unit issuing a data transfer instruction of thedata stored in the memory to the direct memory access controller withoutintervention of the central processing unit,

the direct memory access controller controlling, when the data transferinstruction is received, the input/output bridge to transfer the datastored in the memory to the external processing system.

[Item 1-2]

The processing system according to item 1-1, wherein the graphicsprocessing unit issues a data acquisition instruction to the directmemory access controller without intervention of the central processingunit,

the direct memory access controller issues, when the data acquisitioninstruction is received, a readout instruction of the data to theinput/output bridge,

the input/output bridge broadcasts the readout instruction of the dataissued by the direct memory access controller to the external bus andreceives data transferred from the external processing system respondingto the readout instruction, and

the direct memory access controller writes the data received by theinput/output bridge into the memory.

[Item 1-3]

The processing system according to item 1-2, wherein the direct memoryaccess controller executes control of compression of the data stored inthe memory and decompression of data received by the input/output bridgefrom data transferred from the external processing system.

[Item 1-4]

A multiprocessing system which includes two or more processing systemsaccording to item 1-1, wherein the input/output bridge in each of theprocessing systems has two or more input/output ports configured totransfer data to and from a different one of the processing systems, and

the processing systems are connected for one-to-one communication toeach other through the input/output ports which the input/output bridgesof the game processing systems have.

[Item 1-5]

The multiprocessing system according to item 1-4, wherein, after thegraphics processing unit or the central processing unit in each of theprocessing systems processes and stores data into the memory, thegraphics processing unit or the central processing unit which hasprocessed the data issues a data transfer instruction to the directmemory access controller, and

the direct memory access controller which acquires the data transferinstruction broadcasts the data stored in the memory to the processingsystems through the input/output bridge.

[Item 1-6]

The multiprocessing system according to item 1-4, wherein themultiprocessing system further includes a plurality of blades in each ofwhich a plurality of processing systems according to item 1-1 aredisposed on a same board,

the plural game processing systems on each of the blades are connectedfor one-to-one communication through the input/output ports which theinput/output bridges have, and

the plurality of blades are connected for one-to-one communication withthe input/output ports of the input/output bridge which one of the gameprocessing systems in each of the blades includes.

[Item 2-1]

A game providing system, including:

an allocation server connected to a plurality of client apparatusthrough a network; and

a game providing server configured to execute a game application to beprovided to the client apparatus allocated by the allocation server,

the game providing server being a multiprocessing system which includesa plurality of game processing systems each of which can solely executeat most one game application,

the allocation server setting the number of ones of the game processingsystems which are to be allocated in order to execute one gameapplication in the game providing server in response to a load to thegame providing server.

[Item 2-2]

The game providing system according to item 2-1, wherein the allocationserver sets the number of the game processing systems to be allocated inorder to execute one game application in the game providing server suchthat, where the load to the game providing server is high, the number isset smaller than where the load to the game providing server is low.

[Item 2-3]

The game providing system according to item 2-1, wherein each of thegame processing systems of the game providing server includes

-   -   a graphics processing unit configured to generate a video of the        game application,    -   a memory configured to store the data generated by the graphics        processing unit,    -   a central processing unit configured to cooperate with the        graphics processing unit to share the data stored in the memory,        and    -   a direct memory access controller configured to transfer data        stored in the memory to a different one of the game processing        systems and receive data from a different one of the game        processing systems, and

the allocation server sets an operation clock for the graphicsprocessing unit and the central processing unit such that, where theload to the game providing server is low, the operation clock is sethigher than where the load to the game providing server is high.

[Item 2-4]

The game providing system according to item 2-1, wherein the load to thegame providing server is at least one of power consumption of the gameproviding server, the amount of exhaust heat of the game providingserver and the number of the client apparatus to which the gameproviding server is providing a game application.

[Item 2-5]

The game providing system according to item 2-1, wherein, when the loadto the game providing server increases or decreases while a gameapplication is being provided to a plurality of client apparatus, achange of a scene in the game application whose provision is continuingtriggers the allocation server to increase or decrease the number of thegame processing systems to be allocated in order to execute the gameapplication.

[Item 2-6]

The game providing system according to item 2-1, wherein, where aplurality of game processing systems are allocated in order to execute agame application being provided to a client apparatus, the allocationserver notifies the client apparatus that the game application is beingprovided with high quality.

The present disclosure contains subject matter related to that disclosedin Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2014-075604 filed in theJapan Patent Office on Apr. 1, 2014, the entire content of which ishereby incorporated by reference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A game providing system, comprising: anallocation server connected to a plurality of client apparatus through anetwork; and a game providing server configured to execute a gameapplication to be provided to the client apparatus allocated by theallocation server, the game providing server being a multiprocessingsystem which includes a plurality of game processing systems each ofwhich can solely execute at most one game application, the allocationserver setting the number of ones of the game processing systems whichare to be allocated in order to execute one game application in the gameproviding server in response to a load to the game providing server. 2.The game providing system according to claim 1, wherein the allocationserver sets the number of the game processing systems to be allocated inorder to execute one game application in the game providing server suchthat, where the load to the game providing server is high, the number isset smaller than where the load to the game providing server is low. 3.The game providing system according to claim 1, wherein each of the gameprocessing systems of the game providing server includes a graphicsprocessing unit configured to generate a video of the game application,a memory configured to store the data generated by the graphicsprocessing unit, a central processing unit configured to cooperate withthe graphics processing unit to share the data stored in the memory, anda direct memory access controller configured to transfer data stored inthe memory to a different one of the game processing systems and receivedata from a different one of the game processing systems, and theallocation server sets an operation clock for the graphics processingunit and the central processing unit such that, where the load to thegame providing server is low, the operation clock is set higher thanwhere the load to the game providing server is high.
 4. The gameproviding system according to claim 1, wherein the load to the gameproviding server is at least one of power consumption of the gameproviding server, the amount of exhaust heat of the game providingserver and the number of the client apparatus to which the gameproviding server is providing a game application.
 5. The game providingsystem according to claim 1, wherein, when the load to the gameproviding server increases or decreases while a game application isbeing provided to a plurality of client apparatus, a change of a scenein the game application whose provision is continuing triggers theallocation server to increase or decrease the number of the gameprocessing systems to be allocated in order to execute the gameapplication.
 6. The game providing system according to claim 1, wherein,where a plurality of game processing systems are allocated in order toexecute a game application being provided to a client apparatus, theallocation server notifies the client apparatus that the gameapplication is being provided with high quality.